Collapsible propeller mechanism.



W. MORGAN.

GOLLAPSIBLE PROPELLER MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN 14, 1909.

931,456. Patented Aug. 17. 1909.

WITNESSES MW/wmmir M BYM/FQQT ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIDE.

WILLIAM MORGAN, OF FORT PLAIN, NEW YORK.

GOLLAPSIBLE PROPELLER MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MORGAN, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Fort Plain, in the county of Montgomery and Stateof New York, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements inCollapsible Propeller Mechanism, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention in collapsible propeller mechanism relates to a propellerdevice applicable chiefly to aeronautical machines, such as aerodromes,airships, ice-boats and the like. It has particular reference topropellers of that class which are constructed of flexible materialsecured to a rigid frame and extend thereby, and the object of myinvention is first to provide a system of propellers of this class whichmay be more readily con trolled than those at present in vogue as far asI am aware, and second toprovide a controlling means therefor in a moreeffective, simple and expeditious manner, and at the same time provide asystem more readily within the control of the operator than with any ofthose methods or appliances at present in vogue for accomplishing thesame purpose within the purview of my knowledge. I attain these objectsby the instrumentalities and mechanism illustrated in the drawingshereto attached, which form part of this specification when taken withthe descriptive matter relative thereto.

With reference to the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of myimproved collapsible propeller mechanism involving two propellersadapted to rotate in opposite directions, illustrating one of the saidpropellers extended, and the other collapsed, and Fig. 2 is a vertical,sectional elevational view of the same taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1,in a direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is afragmentary detailed, side elevational view of one of the controllinglevers and connecting bar, and a section of the platform or tablecarrying the same, in accordance with my invention.

In the several figures, similar characters of reference designate likeparts, wherein A indicates the platform or table of the device uponwhich is mounted the laterally disposed parallel propeller shafts B.These are supported in bearings by the table or platform A, and aremounted upon the standards or bearing supports l and 2*. Each of thepropeller shafts B are squared at 1 toward their outer extremities toslid- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 14, 1909.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

Serial No. 472,325.

ingly fit a hub and swiveling collar mounted upon each. Each of theshafts B carry at their outer extremities respectively a right handedand left handed screw propeller C. These embrace the relatively movablearms 1 and the relatively fixed arms 2 the latter are secured to theterminals of their respective shafts B by a tapering squared portion 2of smaller diameter than the squared portion 1 and concentric therewith,engaging a corresponding bore intermediately in their respective arms 2and are jammed against the shoulder 3 resulting at the junction of thesmaller squared portion 2 and the larger squared portion 1 by means of ascrew and nut connection.

3 indicate the propeller blades which I prefer to construct of a toughgrade of sail cloth or other similar material made impervious byvarnishing in a well known manner with linseed oil or other suitablematerial of this character. These have a sector formation as depicted inFig. 2 and are secured at their opposite marginal edges by lacing,tacking or other well known securing means to the relatively movablearms 1 and the fixed arms 2 The relatively movable or sliding arms 1 aresecured to their respective hubs D and are adapted to extend theirrespective blades 8 by moving them inwardly by the hubs D on the squaredportions 1 of the shaft B.

A sliding movement on the shafts B is imparted to the hubs D throughtheir swiveling collars, in the extension of the propellers C, by forkedlevers E of the first order, having their outer forked terminalsengaging the swiveling collars of each of the hubs D of the propellersC. These are universally jointed to and carried by the standards F andthe free terminals of the levers E are provided with universally joinedconnections G to engage a pair of pull levers H swiveled thereto by saidjoints. The free terminals of the pull levers H engage universal jointsI and are secured thereto by a pair of swinging controlling levers Jwhich are latched to notched quadrants K, carried by, and secured to thebase A in a well known manner.

L designates a motor provided with a pair of driving pulleys separatedby a flange 1 and the propeller shafts B are provided each with a tightpulley I). These are connected with the power shaft of the motor L andthe pulleys thereon by means of belts 2 adapted to rotate the propellershafts B in opposite directions as will be understood by theillustration Fig. 1.

In the operation of my improved collapsible propeller mechanism as justdescribed, let it be assumed that the engine L will be set into rotationand the propeller shafts B are being rotated in opposite directions bythe reverse and direct drive belts 2 and that it is desirous ofrendering one of the propellers inactive. F or example, the one to theleft in the drawing. Upon unlatching and pulling the left lever Jrearwardly, the movement will be transmitted to the left propeller Cthrough the unversal joint I, pull lever H, and universal jointconnection G, when lever E will be swung upon its universal jointconnection I and the forked terminals of the said lever engaging thecollar and hub D on the relatively movable arm 1 of this propeller willassume the position as illustrated in Fig. 1, when the left propeller Cwill be closed.

It is obvious that with the propeller C in its condition of inactivity,the right propeller reacting against the atmosphere will tend to rotatethe entire platform and mechanism when employed on an airship, aerodromeor the like serving as a rudder and upon the extension of the leftpropeller and the collapsing of the right propeller, the tendency ofrotation would be in the opposite direction. Again it will be obviousthat by collapsing both propellers in the manner aforesaid, thepropelling effort of the device could be reduced to zero, and that allgradations in the propelling effort to a maximum may be obtained byextending the propellers within their range from a folded or collapsedposition to full extension. It will be therefore understood by theforegoing that my invention provides a means for controlling airpropellers for the varying of the speed of the vehicle vessel or deviceto which they are applied as a motive power apparatus and for steeringthe same as well, and I therefore do not desire to be limited in theprecise details of construction embraced by my invention, since I havedisclosed but one manner whereby the same may be executed by thoseskilled in the art to which the same relates. I am aware however thatprevious to my invention folding propellers have been in vogue and I donot therefore claim these broadly as my invention, but

I do claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates.

1. In a propeller mechanism of the character described a propellerhaving relatively a fixed member and a relatively movable and slidingmember, a shaft carrying the two, said sliding member adjustablelongitudinally thereon, means carried by and coacting with the shaft foradjusting the rela tive position of the said two members on the saidshaft and a flexible material connecting the two.

2. In a propeller mechanism of the character described, a propellerhaving a frame comprising a relatively fixed rigid member, and arelatively movable sliding member, a shaft carrying the two, saidsliding member longitudinally adjustable thereon, means carried by andco-acting with the shaft for adjusting the relative position of the saidtwo members on the said shaft and collapsible blades secured to each ofthe members of the said frame.

3. In a propeller mechanism of the character described, a propellerhaving a rigid frame, comprising a relatively fixed member and a movablemember, a shaftcarrying the two, the movable member slidingly adjustablethereon, means carried by and co-acting with the shaft for adjusting theposition of the movable member, and flexible propeller blades interposedbetween and secured to each of the said members and adapted to be foldedand extended therebetween.

a. In a propeller mechanism of the character described, a propellerhaving a rigid frame, comprising a relatively fixed member and a movablemember disposed in angular relation thereto and in parallel planes, ashaft carrying the two and perpendicular to the axis thereof, themovable member slidingly adjustable thereon, a shifting mechanismcarried by and co-acting with the shaft and the movable member foradjusting the position of the two, and imparting a relative parallelmovement to the movable member, and flexible propeller blades interposedbetween and secured to each of the said members and adapted to be foldedand extended therebetween.

5. In a propeller mechanism of the character described, a pair ofoppositely rotatory propellers, provided with collapsible blades andrigid frames, a motive power apparatus co-acting therewith and adaptedto rotate the same in opposite directions and a system of leverscoacting with the rotatory propellers adapted to collapse the bladeslaterally to eliminate the pitch thereof by a movement imparted to thesaid levers and to extend the same by an opposite movement.

6. In a propeller mechanism of the character described,'a pair ofoppositely situated rotatory collapsible propellers provided withflexible blades and rigid arms therefor, propelling shafts carried byeach, a motive power apparatus co-acting therewith and adapted to rotatethe propellers in opposite directions and a system of levers, co-actingwith the rotatory propellers and the said shafts, adapted to slidinglycollapse the said flexible blades by a suitable movement being impartedto the said levers and adapted to extend the said blades by a reversemovement of the said levers.

blades by a suitable movement being imparted to either of the saidlevers and to extend the said propellers by imparting a reverse movementto the levers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

l/VILLIAM MORGAN.

Witnesses:

LEONARD B. MOORE, R. B. SAMMoNs.

